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Staff Writer

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The Africa’s Green Economy Summit (AGES) 2026 opened its doors in Cape Town today, marking a pivotal moment in the continent's economic trajectory. Convening a powerful coalition of policymakers, financiers and innovators, the summit signals a decisive shift from conceptual ambition to concrete, bankable action in the pursuit of a sustainable African future. Under the banner of "From Ambition to Action: Scaling Opportunities in Africa's Green and Blue Solutions," AGES 2026, proudly sponsored by Sanlam Investments, is not merely a forum for discussion but a catalyst for deal-making and partnership. The gathering is built on a singular premise, that Africa’s environmental challenges are, in fact, its greatest economic opportunities. “Ambition lights the path, but it does not pave it. To transform our economies and uplift our communities, we must move beyond rhetoric to robust execution,” said Lerato Mbele, Summit Moderator. “This summit is a marketplace of ideas where we connect visionaries with investors, ensuring that Africa’s green transition is not just sustainable, but also scalable and profitable.” The strategic focus of this year’s agenda is underpinned by compelling data. The summit is shining a spotlight on the blue economy, a colossal yet often under-leveraged asset that already injects nearly $300 billion annually into the continent’s GDP and sustains 46 million livelihoods through fisheries, tourism and logistics. Simultaneously, the green economy, with agriculture and renewable energy at its core, is projected to unlock a staggering $10 trillion in global business value over the next decade, positioning Africa to generate an estimated 300 million new jobs for its burgeoning youth population. These are not distant prospects, but immediate frontiers for investment and innovation. Echoing this sentiment, the Honourable Naren Singh, Deputy Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment, addressed delegates with a call for holistic progress. "Our journey towards a low-carbon future must be defined by a fundamental truth: sustainability is a three-legged stool, balancing the health of our planet, the prosperity of our people and the creation of shared value," he stated. "By investing in our natural capital, we are investing in the most resilient infrastructure of all our communities." Over the next two days, the summit floor will be a hive of activity. Attendees will engage in high-level interactive sessions, witness live project pitches from Africa’s most promising green entrepreneurs, and participate in curated networking forums designed to fast-track collaboration and knowledge transfer. AGES 2026 is more than an event, it is a declaration that Africa is ready to build a future where economic resilience and environmental stewardship are the same.
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Africa’s Green Economy Summit 2026 Charts a Course from Vision to...

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Instant 24/7 bank-to-bank transfers across African borders in local currencies. Simpler cross-border payments for individuals, businesses, and SMEs. 80 plus Pesalink network participants now linked to 160 plus PAPSS participating banks. Pesalink, Kenya’s de facto instant payment network, has partnered with the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) to ease cross-border payment and speed up regional financial integration. The partnership enables instant 24/7 cross-border payments from PAPSS participants into banks and mobile money operators within the Pesalink network in Kenya, all settled in local currencies. This reduces complex correspondent banking requirements and reliance on foreign reserve currencies. PAPSS, an initiative of the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) in collaboration with the African Union and the AfCFTA Secretariat, enables cross-border payments between African countries. Pesalink is now a Technical Connectivity Provider. It means that 80 plus Kenyan bank, fintech, SACCO and telco participants on the Pesalink network will be connected to 160 plus commercial banks and fintechs on the PAPSS platform. Cross-border payments remain expensive and slow for many African businesses. The 2023 (http://apo-opa.co/4baDSh7) World Bank Remittance Prices report indicates that sending money across African borders incurs on average 7-8% of the total value sent (above the global average of 6–7%). Settlement can also take three to seven business days. The Pesalink–PAPSS partnership will reduce costs, speed up settlements, and help individuals, SMEs and businesses send money more efficiently across borders. Speaking during the partnership signing held at Pesalink offices in Nairobi, PAPSS CEO Mike Ogbalu III said, “For PAPSS to deliver true impact, collaboration with national and private switches like Pesalink is essential. Pesalink is the first switch we’ve piloted for transaction termination in Kenya, and we are already seeing greater adoption by opening more channels for seamless, local-currency cross-border payments across Africa.” Pesalink CEO, Gituku Kirika, said “Kenyan banks will now be able to offer faster, cheaper cross-border payments. They will be helping their customers grow more regional trading relationships and thrive in a more integrated digital economy.”
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Pesalink and Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) Unlock Cross-Border Payments...

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Marriott International, Inc. (Nasdaq: MAR, “Marriott”) (www.Marriott.com) announced an exceptional year of growth across Europe, Middle East & Africa (EMEA) in 2025 with more than 230 organic signings representing over 31,000 rooms. Marriott also added 170 properties and nearly 24,000 rooms across EMEA last year, contributing to a 7.8% net rooms growth in the region. “2025 was another strong year for Marriott International in EMEA defined by strategic expansion and segment-wide momentum across the region,” said Satya Anand, President, Europe, Middle East & Africa, Marriott International. “We continued to grow our portfolio with purpose by expanding into new destinations, scaling our brands thoughtfully and offering even more diverse experiences for our guests and Marriott Bonvoy members. Our robust growth is a testament to the dedication of our teams and the trust of our owners, and we remain committed to shaping the future of travel in the region.” The company’s EMEA region ended the year with a pipeline of over 600 properties and nearly 113,000 rooms. Germany, Italy, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom were the highest growth markets, with the leading number of signings for the company across the region in 2025. Conversions and adaptive reuse projects continue to drive significant growth for the company in the region, fueled by the company’s portfolio of collection brands and conversion-friendly offerings. Conversions and adaptive reuse projects represented nearly 50% of the region’s signings in the year. Unrivaled Luxury Brands Deliver Extraordinary Growth Marriott reinforced its luxury leadership in 2025. EMEA represented the company’s strongest region for signings in the luxury segment with a record 40 signed luxury deals. St. Regis saw the highest number of signed agreements in the region with 14 deals, including The St. Regis Karya Cove Resort, Bodrum and The St. Regis Jeddah Corniche. Other luxury milestone signings included The Cape Town EDITION, JW Marriott Hotel Tashkent and JW Marriott Milos Resort and Spa. Record Breaking Branded Residential Signings Reinforcing the company’s 25-year leadership in branded residences, Marriott signed a record-breaking 24 residential deals across EMEA, more than double the volume signed in 2024. Since year-end 2023, the company has grown its branded residential total portfolio of open and pipeline properties by 33% in Europe, and 70% in the Middle East & Africa, demonstrating the growing demand for elevated living in the region. The company closed the year with 33 open locations and 60 in the region’s pipeline. Signings highlights in 2025 included The Residences at the Dubai Beach EDITION; Marriott Residences, Budapest; The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Palm Hills, Cairo and Seamont, Autograph Collection Residences, Al Reem Island, Abu Dhabi. Accelerated Expansion of Midscale Segment Marriott has experienced extraordinary growth in the midscale segment, while maintaining a strategic focus on regionally resonant brands and scaling them. Four Points Flex by Sheraton, a conversion-friendly midscale brand offered in EMEA, represented the fastest growing brand for the company in the region with 18 signings and 23 openings in 2025. The brand closed the year with 38 open properties with over 4,300 rooms. Marriott recently introduced two new brands to the region - Series by Marriott, a global collection brand for the midscale and upscale lodging segments that is designed to deliver a personalised experience that reflects the distinct character of each destination, and StudioRes, an extended-stay midscale brand. Both brands have received significant interest from developers across the EMEA region. Acquisition of the citizenM brand As the company continues to strive to meet the evolving needs of every traveler and trip purpose, Marriott completed its acquisition of the citizenM brand, known for its genuine service, tech-savvy in-hotel experience, highly efficient use of space, and focus on art and design. The citizenM portfolio was integrated on Marriott’s platforms in the fourth quarter of 2025, adding 19 hotels and nearly 4,000 rooms to the company’s EMEA portfolio. Jerome Briet, Chief Development Officer, Europe, Middle East & Africa, Marriott International added, “From record luxury and branded residential signings to the remarkable momentum of our midscale offerings, we are capturing opportunity for growth and new audiences across every segment in the region. These milestones underscore the depth and diversity of our portfolio and reinforce our commitment to delivering long-term value for our hotel owners in this region.” Marriott added 170 properties to its operating portfolio in the region in 2025. Opening highlights included: The Luxury Collection continued its expansion in the region following the openings of Patmos Aktis, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Greece and H15 Palace, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Krakow Lifestyle luxury brands EDITION and W Hotels celebrated milestone openings such as The Lake Como EDITION, The Red Sea EDITION, W Florence and W Sardinia. JW Marriott made its debut in Greece with the JW Marriott Crete Resort & Spa, the brand’s first Mediterranean beach resort. The company’s flagship brand, Marriott Hotels, marked its debut in Luxembourg with the Luxembourg Marriott Hotel Alfa. Morea House, Autograph Collection, opened within Camps Bay in Cape Town, further expanding the brand’s diverse and dynamic portfolio of independent hotels in the region. Celebrating its 10th anniversary, Moxy Hotels reached 100 open properties in the region with the Moxy Belfast City along with other key openings in Istanbul, Lisbon and Warsaw. Four Points Flex by Sheraton added over 20 properties to its operating portfolio which included the brand’s entry into Germany, Austria, Italy and Spain. As Marriott continues to expand its offerings, the breadth and depth of the company’s portfolio remain well-positioned to offer compelling options for developers and real estate investors. To learn more about Marriott’s development opportunities and updates, visit https://apo-opa.co/40s81T0.
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Marriott International Announces Robust Growth Momentum Across Europe, Middle East &...

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Across Africa, the rapid rollout of solar generation is shifting the challenge from simply adding capacity to integrating power reliably into weak and unstable grids. Diesel dependence, frequency instability and limited transmission infrastructure are driving demand for battery energy storage systems (BESS) not as optional hardware, but as core infrastructure for resilient power systems. In markets from East to West Africa, storage is increasingly deployed not for arbitrage but for reliability, stability and energy access — especially in hybrid microgrids and solar-plus-storage projects that reduce fuel costs and improve service continuity. To meet these needs, developers and utilities are moving beyond standalone batteries toward end-to-end storage solutions that bundle engineered systems, intelligent controls and lifecycle support. This approach enables faster integration, higher performance under Africa’s challenging operating conditions and stronger bankability for long-term financing. VUKA Group, as RelyEZ’s regional partner, plays a key role in delivering these solutions across Africa. VUKA Group provides local expertise, project management, and support services, ensuring that RelyEZ’s modular, containerised platforms and intelligent Energy Management Systems are deployed effectively and optimised for African conditions. Together, RelyEZ and VUKA Group are helping utilities and communities integrate storage, strengthen grid stability, and advance renewable energy access. Want to understand how RelyEZ and VUKA Group are aligning storage delivery with Africa’s solar growth? Read more here: https://apo-opa.co/3OodPKB
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How RelyEZ is powering Africa’s growing solar and storage demand

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Binance (www.Binance.com), the leading global blockchain ecosystem and cryptocurrency infrastructure provider, and Africell, a major African mobile network operator have announced their intent to collaborate on blockchain education, crypto literacy, and digital asset services across in Africa. Key areas of the proposed collaboration include: Crypto-as-a-Service: Exploration of crypto payment technologies, including Binance Link (https://apo-opa.co/4kGtEbr), to enable crypto payments and digital services through Africell platforms. Education Initiatives: Co-branded courses and workshops on Binance Academy to boost crypto knowledge across Africa. Joint User Offers: Exploration of joint promotional offers for users, which will be funded through Binances’s CPA (Cost Per Acquisition) revenue-sharing model. p2p Enhancements: Integration with Binance P2P (https://apo-opa.co/3OOKRDG) to improve speed, security, and convenience for peer-to-peer crypto transactions. Jack Wong, Business Development at Binance, commented: “Binance and Africell share a commitment to empowering African communities with education, infrastructure and practical tools to participate confidently in the digital economy. By combining global expertise with local reach, we aim to support responsible adoption of blockchain and crypto solutions and create real value for communities.” From Africell’s perspective, the partnership helps to expand its digital services offering. Africell’s Head of Business Development, Nidal Safetli, says: “Partnering with Binance allows us to bring global blockchain expertise into our local ecosystem. Together we aim to equip communities with the knowledge, technical skills and tools to participate confidently in the digital financial economy.” Further details on the potential joint programmes are expected to be announced in the coming months and could potentially be expanded to the wider Lintel group of companies.
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Binance and Africell to explore crypto education and digital asset services...

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“In addition, the Group experienced elevated claims during the period, which reflects normal volatility within the insurance cycle and remains within expectations,” it added. CIC attributed its stronger 2024 performance to a Sh1 billion gain from the revaluation of its Kiambu land property. The Group also earned Sh1.8 billion from the sale of two parcels of land near Tatu City and in Kajiado County. The properties included a 50-acre block neighbouring Tatu City and a 100-acre parcel in Kajiado. Despite the disposals, the insurer and its subsidiaries still hold substantial land investments, including 200 acres near Tatu City and 495 acres in Kajiado. “The Board remains confident in the Group’s long-term strategy, capital strength, and ability to deliver sustainable value to shareholders as we implement our 2026 to 2030 strategic plan,” the statement added.
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CIC profit expected to dip 25pc to Kes2.14bn

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The blueprint, presented by Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) to the Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU), also proposes construction of a new runway by 2029 and expansion of airfield capacity to handle up to 63 aircraft movements per hour, up from the current 14. Officials say passenger numbers have been rising by roughly one million annually, meaning existing facilities could become insufficient within the next three years if upgrades are not undertaken. Beyond terminal development, the Master Plan outlines phased infrastructure investments, including landside upgrades to improve access, circulation and operational efficiency. The expansion will be carried out in stages to minimize disruption, with existing terminals rehabilitated and optimized during the transition. Authorities argue the modernization is critical to maintaining JKIA’s position as a regional aviation hub, boosting cargo and passenger traffic, and supporting airport-linked businesses. However, financing, execution timelines and coordination with stakeholders will be key to delivering the project without operational setbacks.
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JKIA masterplan targets 15 million passenger capacity, new runway

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“This recognition reinforces our belief that progress should be shared. We continue to work every day to build financial tools that open doors, support families and businesses, and ensure that no one is left behind.” Over the last decade, Tala says it has served more than 13 million customers across three continents and disbursed over $7 billion in credit. In December last year, the company also launched on-chain lending in partnership with Huma and Solana. The fintech firm expanded further into Latin America and India in 2025, with plans to enter two additional markets—Dominican Republic and Vietnam—this year.
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Forbes names Tala among hottest fintechs in 2026

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Stima Sacco launches insurance brokerage subsidiary

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Africa’s storage moment

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